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50 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2014 is in the billions and the support services and duties around the world is in the mil- lions. Submarines are continually being built to larger speci? cations (tonnage) and this is true for all counties around the globe which build them. So, it’s essential that the equipment installed is designed, tested, and quali? ed to last its lifetime to ensure the boat’s security and the men who work on it. Hydro Group is involved in subsea en- gineering in the oil & gas and renewable energy industries and provides similar solutions and designed products which have synergy with those we produce for the defense industry. Our innovation is focused on the longevity of product where the installation has a life cycle re- quirement of 40 years. Evolving technology and dynamic mission pro? les have driven change in the industry. Underwater sensor and pro- pulsion innovation have enabled extend- ed subsea endurance and has broadened the operational scope of today’s subma- rines. Mission pro? les now include intel- ligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations (ISR) and for the deployment of Special Forces on covert missions in hostile territory. The versatility of sub- marine operations is constantly adapt- ing to meet the different types of global threat. Many other nations are looking to modernize their own ? eet of submarines and a shift in procurement patterns is stimulating collaboration and consoli- dation in the market. The Asia Paci? c region is one such signi? cant growth area for the submarine market. The jos- tling for power amidst a growing sense of hostility is fueling an arms race in the region and driving the need for subma- rine protection. Territorial disputes be- tween counties are increasing and they are all primarily dependent upon mari- time routes. South Korea is embarking on an indigenous program of submarine construction and, due to its commercial acumen of driving down costs, will also give the country a platform to sell and build boats to other countries. Asia is expected to impact signi? - cantly on the submarine market over the next several years, with an estimated expenditure of $46 billion dollars, a ? g- ure matched by the whole of Europe on its submarine building programs. Cur- rently the global market is dominated by America with 46% of all build, followed by Europe with 25%, Asia with 24% and Latin America with 5%. The Asia Paci? c region has recovered from the global economic slowdown which is encourag- ing spending on defence and in particu- lar submarines. Hydro Group addresses diverse and in some cases rapidly changing markets, albeit the submarine programs move at a slower pace, the technological in- novation developed is long term in its planning and well in advance of future implementation. In order to keep pace with demand we work closely with our customers to understand their technol- ogy and business needs to engage at an early stage of the product design cycle. Cooperation in the design of solutions allows us to gain invaluable insight into the functional objectives and to address SUBSEA DEFENSE The Successor Submarine replaces the current Astute submarine fl eet. It will carry the U.K.’s strategic nuclear deterrent. According to Naval Forces, Successor will be the largest and most advanced submerged platforms operated by the Royal Navy and the design and construction will be the most technologically complex in the history of the U.K. MR #11 (50-57).indd 50 10/28/2014 11:13:08 AM
